Groundworking member



, Jul 29, 1924.' 1,502,711 v J. G. CAGLE GROUNDWORKING MEMBER OriginalFiled March 22, 92

Jan/;

Patented July 29, 19 24.

JAMES G. CAGLE, OF MAR-ION, ILLINOIS.

GROUNDWO'RKING MEMBER.

Original application filed. March 22, 1922, Serial No. 545,724. Dividedand this application filed August To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES G. CAGLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Marion, in the county of lVilliamson and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in GroundworkingMembers, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the ac companying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in ground working membersand has relation more particularly to a device of this general characterespecially designed and adapted for use in the pulverizing of soil andit is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved deviceof this general character constructed in a manner to treat the soilwithout producing furrows and ridges but creating a uniform surface topermit a drill or seeder to be run in.

any direction or angle on the field and which also operates effectivelyto cut and crush clods and turf and lift the same to the surface,sifting the fine dust or comminuted soil below where the grain requiresthe moisture storage, bringing of the clods or turf to the surfaceexposing the same to the rain and for later cultivation.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved groundworking member whereby certain important advantages are attained and thedevice rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenientand advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accom panyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a diametrical section through a pulverizerconstructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view.

As herein disclosed, my improved ground working member comprises an axle7 adapt ed to be supported as at 2 by the end members of a sultableframe and particularly a frame of the type shown in my pendingapplication SerialNo. 545,724 of which the present application is adivision.

Serial No. 659,337.

Carried by the axle 7 at points spaced thereon are the wheels W and asherein disclosed the wheels W are three in number. Two of the wheelsbeing in close proximity to the frame and a third wheel positionedsubstantially midway thereof.

Each of the end wheels W is of a solid or disc type and the intermediatewheel comprises two overlying sections with each of said sectionsradially divided into two parts a with the straight edges of the parts aof one wheel section substantially at right angles to the straight edgeportions of the parts a: of the second section. The sections of thewheel are maintained in assembled relation through the medium of thebolts 8, said bolts being eight in number and divided into pairs. Thebolts 8 of each pair are arranged at opposite sides of the straightedges of the parts a of a section of the wheel. The peripheral portionof the wheel W is beveled so that the perimeter of the wheel is providedwith a continuous cutting edge Z) so that said wheels, when the deviceis in transit, will cut into the soil and not pack the same.

Each of the wheels W is also provided with relatively large openings 9.The central portion of each of the wheels is provided with an angularopening 10 which is adapted to snugly receive an angular portion of theaxle 7 whereby the axle 7 and the wheels /V will be caused to rotate inunison. The remaining portions of the axle 7 are round in cross section.After a wheel W has been properly positioned upon the axle 7, the sameis maintained against displacement through the medium of the holdingcollars 11 positioned at opposite sides of the wheel W and contactingtherewith, said holding collars being locked in working position throughthe instrumentality of the binding or set screws 12.

The wheels W in their peripheral portions are provided therearound withthe circumferentially and equi-distantly spaced slots 14, said slotsbeing radially disposed and open at their outer ends. The outer or endwheels W have a longitudinal edge of each of the slots 14 defined by aninwardly directed flange 15. When the wheels WV are mounted upon theaxle 7, theslots 14 of all of the wheels are in longitudinal alinementso that the slots may receive the blades B. The blades B loosely seatwithin the slots 14 of the intermediate wheel but the extrem ities ofthe blades are bolted, as at 16, whereby the blades B are efiectivelymaintained in applied position yet can be readily removed for sharpeningor for replacement as required.

By having the intermediate wheel N formed in sections, this wheel can beremoved from applied position without the necessity of. removing theblades B. This is of particular advantage for purposes of repair orreplacement.

As the device travels over a field, the softer parts of the soil are cutwhen first contacted with by the blades B and as each of the bladespasses to a vertical position or center, the entire weight. of themachine is dropped on the clod or turf offering the greatest resistance,thereby effectively cutting the same. In practice, it is prefer-red thatadjacent blades be separated or spaced apart four inches and which willbe the maximum size to which the clods or turf will be reduced.

lVith a device or. implement as herein disclosed, the field treatedthereby is free of furrows and ridges and is formed into a uniformsurface so that a drill or seeder may be run in any direction on orangular of the field. The deviceor machine may also be employed as astalk cutter by removing the blades B as may be required.

When the machine or device is in operation, the blades B will crush andcut clods and turf and lift them to the surface, sifting the fine dustbeneath where the seeds and grain needs most the moisture storage forthe grain bed. The clods and turf are not only brought to the surfacewhere they are exposed to later cultivation and rain, but they are allcut to maximum size. In view of the foregoing, considerable time issaved in the working of a field as it is only neces sary to go over theground a single time with my improved device as no overlapping isrequired.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a groundworking member constructed in accordance with my invention isparticularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience andfacility with which it may be assembled and 0perated, and it will alsobe obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change andmodification without departing from the principles and spirit thereofand for this reason I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself tothe precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shownin carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim A device of the class described comprising an axle, sald axleadjacent its ends at its central portion being angular in cross section,wheels mounted upon said angular portions of the axle, collars slidablymounted on each of said angular portions at opposite sides of the wheelthereon, means carried by the collars and engaging the axle forvholdingthe collars in contact with said wheel, blades substantially radiallydisposed with respect to the axle and engaged with the peripheralportions of the wheels, the

intermediate wheel comprising two overlying sections, each of saidsections being radially divided into two parts with the straight edgesof the parts of one section being angularly related to the straightedges of the parts of the second section, and removable means disposedthrough the overlying sections of the wheel and arranged at oppositesides of the straight edges'of the parts of the sections.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JAMES G. CAGLE.

